William maxwell



'WILLIAM MAXWELL. Improvement n'ApparatuS for PresrvingMeats and Vegetables. n

Patented Jan. 30, 1872.

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l m m Y m m W 1 W-l-NESSES ai @rtree WILLIAM MAXWELL, OF HENDERSON, TEXAS.

lMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING MEATS AND VEGETABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,273, dated January 30, 1872.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that WILLIAM MAXWELL, a citizen ofthe city ot' Henderson, in the county ot' Itusk and State of Texas, has invented a new and valuable Improvement in Apparatus for Preserving Meat, Vegetables, &c.; and he does hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed dra-wing making a part otthis specitication, and to the letters and ligar-es of reference marked thereon.

Figure l ot' the drawing, is a representation of a transverse vertical section of my invention. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are details of the same.

My invention has relation to the preservation ot' meats, vegetables, fruits, 85e.; and consists in the construction of a novel apparatus, as hereinafter described, for the fumigation ot' the substance to be preserved by burnin g sulphur, and also for the impregna-tion ot' water with sulphurous acid by one and the same process and at the same time.

A ot' the dra-wing,` represents a box, which I usuallypreferto make about sixfeetin height, four feet in width, and two feet iu thickness, and with an open top. B represents a hinged lid or cover to my box, and is constructed with strips of India rubber around its edges, so that when pressed down upon the top ot' the walls of the box the latter will become air-tight. rlhe letters e represent brackets attached to the inside of the walls to serve as supports for the grates next mentioned. D represents a grate constructed with end bars d adapted to sit upon the brackets c, a-nd also with longitudinal bars s adapted to hold the substance to be fumigated. 'Iliese last-named bars are constructed with a pointed upper surface, as shown on Fig. 3, in order that as large a portion of the surface of the mea-t, etc., as possible may be exposed to the fumes ot' the burning sulphur or other combustible fumigator. The letter y represents a bracket placed very nea-r the top otthe box for holding the fumigating material; and z represents the cup for holding such material. The letter H represents a water-space, and h a faucet for drawing water from the same. The lid of my box is pressed down to duty by any suitable means but I prefer to use a staple and wedge, as shown at G, ot' which a is the staple and o the wedge.

My device is operated as follows, to wit: The meat or other thing to be fumigated is placed upon the grate 1), the fumigating material is placed in the cup z, and water poured into the space H. I then set re to the fumigating;` substance and close the lid firmly by means of the wedge and staple. N ow, as the fumigator in combustion consumes the oxygen in the box sulphurous acid is formed, which, bein g' heavier than the air, falls upon the substances on the grate and also into the water in the water-space. The above-described process is repeated as often as the oxygen is exhausted, until both the materials on the grates and the water below become thoroughly impregnated with the sulphurous acid or other like preserving acid formed by such combustion. The water is then dra-wn off into a suitable vessel and the materials from thegrates placed therein for preservation.

Meats will usually need no submersion in the fumigated water, but vegetables generally require it. I prefer to place the medicated water in an air-tight vessel before placing,- the vegetables therein. If, however, it be desired to keep meat for use as steaks or for roasting` purposes, I advise that, after t'umigation upon the grates, they be submerged in the medicated water for preservation.

I/Vhat I claim as my invention, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'Ihe box herein described, constructed with lid B with its fastening apparatus Gr, grates D, water-space H, faucet h, and brackets Gand y, substantially as and for the purpose specitied.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence ot two witnesses.

WILLIAM MAXWELL.

Witnesses:

G. M. GoULD, J. H. MCCAULEY. 

